Monday, March 30, 2009

RootsMagic becomes First Desktop Genealogy Software to Reserve and Print LDS Temple Ordinances Using New FamilySearch

SPRINGVILLE, Utah. — March 30, 2009 — RootsMagic, Inc. announced the immediate availability of an update to their RootsMagic 4 genealogy software which is now FamilySearch certified for both temple ordinance reservation and temple trips.RootsMagic 4 is the first- and currently the only- desktop genealogy software to offer these features and certifications.

Ordinance Reservation Certified

As an “Ordinance Reservation Certified” application, RootsMagic 4 has the ability to link people in your desktop genealogy file with matching people on the New FamilySearch website.Once linked, RootsMagic 4 makes it easy to share data between your personal file and New FamilySearch.By simply clicking on the temple icon next to a person’s name, you are shown that person's official temple ordinances, complete with dates, temple names, and status.You may then reserve any incomplete ordinances that you wish to perform in the future or update your own file with ordinances which are already completed.

Temple Trip Certified

As a “Temple Trip Certified” application, RootsMagic 4 can create “Temple Trips” from any ordinances which you previously reserved through New FamilySearch.You select which reserved ordinances you wish to print ordinance cards for and RootsMagic will print a paper with a barcode on it known as a Family Ordinance Request (FOR).You simply take the paper to the temple and a worker will scan the barcode, printing off all the desired ordinance cards.Once the ordinances are completed, RootsMagic will update their status in your personal file.

“We’re very excited to be the first to work with FamilySearch in this important work,” said Bruce Buzbee, president.“Our mission is, ‘Family History Made Easy’, and that is exactly what this is.To submit and track temple ordinances used to be a long, complicated process involving many files and floppy disks.Together with FamilySearch, we’ve been able to simplify it to a few clicks and a single, printed page.”

New FamilySearch Made Easy

RootsMagic also simplifies other tasks when working with New FamilySearch.Recently, RootsMagic 4 received awards for “Easiest to Sync” and “Best Dashboard” at the 2009 FamilySearch Developer Awards.Video tutorials, demonstrating how easy it is to work with New FamilySearch using RootsMagic 4 are available at http://www.rootsmagic.com/fs.

Free Trial Available

A free trial version of RootsMagic 4 is available at http://www.rootsmagic.com.The trial version allows a person to import their data, add information, and play with RootsMagic’s major features without any time limitation. “We’re so excited about this new release, we wanted to give everyone a risk-free option to try it for themselves,” said Buzbee.

Users of other genealogy software products will find it easy to experiment with RootsMagic 4 using their own data. RootsMagic can directly import data from PAF, Family Tree Maker (through 2006), Family Origins, and Legacy Family Tree. It can also read data using the popular GEDCOM format.

About RootsMagic, Inc.

For over 20 years, RootsMagic, Inc. has been creating computer software with a special purpose- to unite families.One of our earliest products- the popular “Family Origins” software, introduced thousands of people to the joy and excitement of family history.

That tradition continues today with “RootsMagic”, our award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history fun and easy.“Personal Historian” will help you easily write and preserve your life stories.“Family Reunion Organizer” takes the headaches out of planning those important get-togethers.And “Family Atlas” creates beautiful and educational geographic maps of your family history.

Please understand that if you decide to order by phone, your download order will be delayed as it needs to be processed manually. You may also need to leave a name and number for a callback due to the high volume of calls.

You can upgrade from any version of RootsMagic or Family Origins for only $19.95 for the download. If you want a CD, just add $5 to cover shipping and handling.

Free Upgrades

If you purchased RootsMagic 3 on or after August 1, 2008 or as part of a special genealogy conference offer during 2008-09, you are eligible for a free downloadable upgrade of RootsMagic 4 by visiting http://www.rootsmagic.com/myupgrade and entering information about your original order. Please allow up to 48 hours for processing as we must manually verify each request to verify that it qualifies.

Discount Offer

Do you have friends that you would like to switch to RootsMagic? Or are you not a RootsMagic user yet, but like what you see in RootsMagic 4? We'd like to welcome you to the RootsMagic family with a special discount. For a limited time, users of Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, or The Master Genealogist can buy RootsMagic for the upgrade price of $19.95. Go to http://www.rootsmagic.com/upgrade for more information.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

It's been a while since I blogged. It's actually taken me a week to get over the BYU Computerized Family History Conference that I attended March 13th and 14th. I think it was because I attended the Saturday before it the South Davis Family History Conference. These all day events really wipe me out.

People have asked me if I learned anything new and my mind just draws a blank. It was great, loved both conferences. Learned a lot but I didn't hardly write anything down. It just adsorbed into my brain and is sitting nicely there to recover at some random time. But for the life of me I couldn't tell you what's sitting new in there. Usually I write down new thoughts onto paper to refer back to later. I noticed I didn't make many notes for these two conferences. I also think it doesn't help having fatigue after the meetings. It makes my brain go to mush.

I've also had another project I've been working on for a while now. Someone hired me to go through four huge volumes of family history work that they paid a genealogies to do for them and have me check if all the temple work is done or not. The goal is to do 20 hours of work a month. This past week I put in a lot of hours because earlier in the month I didn't do very much. Playing catch-up is never easy. I have to say the extra income will be nice but I prefer working on my own genealogy.

Now it's time to focus on FamilySearch Indexing. I received an email from FamilySearch Indexing this week that I am passing along to you.

Dear Volunteers:

We greatly appreciate your contributions to Cheshire projects that have been indexed in the past. FamilySearch indexing is now uniting volunteers who have previously worked on Cheshire projects to help complete the UK - Cheshire Parish Registers part 1 project by March 31st.

If you have any questions regarding this project or about indexing in general, please contact Indexing Support toll-free in the U.S. and Canada at

Thank you again for all of your efforts! We have seen great things accomplished when volunteers work together toward a common goal.

Warm Regards,

FamilySearch Indexing

I really don't think I did much of the Cheshire project. If I remember correctly I tried to work on a batch and it was all in Latin, so I sent it back. I know they need people to help but I'm not sure yet if I will attempt a batch again. I know that all the batches are not in Latin but I'm just not sure if I'm in the mood to work on it right now.

As usual I looked so see if we have any other messages from Headquarters and there is one in My Messages in the application.

If you need to change your stake, you must select an option from the list that appears when you begin typing in the Group or Stake field.

There must be something selected or typed in the Country and State or Province fields before you can save your updated information.

10. Click Save.

Thank you!

Now it's time to pick what batch I want to work on. I decided to take a look at the UK Cheshire Parish Records. I clicked on "View Sample" and nothing comes up. I see a quick flash of a download and then nothing. That option must not be working. I'm just not brave enough to tackle that project sight unseen.

My mood is more for census records. I picked the New Jersey 1920 US Federal Census. My first batch is blurred, it's like the page moved during scanning. I send it back, choosing the option "Send it back, and take it out of circulation". They really need to rescan it. I was advised to contact my group administrator and explain why it needed to be taken out of circulation. I think it's kind of late to call so I just sent them an email with the explanation and batch number.

Now for the next batch. Since I have batches right in the same series I have the same problem again - blurred images. I return two more batches. This time I keep the email up to my group administrator so I can just lump the batch numbers and explanation together. I get up to 14 batches that need to be returned. Then I downloaded a bunch of Argentina Census records by mistake and just return them for someone else to do.

So things are not going that well for me. I thought maybe I'm cursed because I don't want to work on the Cheshire projects. I downloaded one of the batches and my brain just doesn't want to comprehend what I need to do with this project. I decided to return that batch for someone else to do too. It's almost 10:30pm and I am tired out from all this. My decision is to stop fooling around with indexing since I just might make a mess of things if I keep up at my current rate. So I am throwing in the towel for the night and if I have chance I will try again later in the week.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

This function is essential to users of the new FamilySearch™ system. You can now view large combined individuals by the event information that is associated with them. For example, All birth places are listed one on top of one another making it easy to identify the 10 records with a birth place in Spain, versus the 5 in Kansas, or the 42 in New York. Once users identify a group of records that don't belong, they can both separate them and recombined them into a second individual all at once. This especially helpful with large combined individuals that may include the records for 3 or more different individuals.View the Separate Video Tutorial

Place Editor- “Best Standardizer”

FamilyInsight's Place Editor received a 2009 FamilySearch™ Software Award for the Best Standardizer. Users can find up to ALL instances of a place name and correct them at once. If a place name is unrecognized in FamilySearch™ family tree, FamilyInsight will use place name suggestions from FamilySearch™ to alert the user. As users edit place names, they have the option of using the FamilySearch™ place name suggestions or keeping their own alternate place name format. Without FamilyInsight's Place Name editor users have to fix each place name individually or try the PAF global search and replace, which as many know can mess up place names entirely. Furthermore, when syncing a file with nFS, FamilyInsight will make sure they have chosen a recognized place name, even if they choose to keep a unique place name format in their own file.View the Edit Places Video Tutorial

Humble Beginnings

Ohana Software was started in 2002 when founder John Vilburn decided there must be a better way to do merges. Since then, John has continued to push forward finding the best ways to do genealogy. The release of PAF Insight, the predecessor to FamilyInsight, was received with insurmountable excitement because of the rate at which it accelerated both genealogy and temple work. It was the groundbreaking algorithm behind our well know IGI search that became the seed for Familyinsight's new FamilySearch™ Synchronizing function. As the first to implement syncing technology, we are excited about the work that we have been able to accomplish in fine tuning and perfecting our database search algorithm.

“It is one thing to have a simple search. It is another to have a correct and complete search.”

In order to accomplish speed along with accuracy, FamilyInsight is design to bring up quick and easy matches right away and then continue to do a powerful and comprehensive search with dozens of permutations to bring back the matches that would be lost with any other search.What is FamilyInsight?

FamilyInsight is a program meant for those who enjoy using PAF and wish to continue using PAF. FamilyInsight provides all the essential functions that PAF users will need as they begin to interface with the new FamilySearch™ web site. Furthermore, FamilyInsight has multiple unique and powerful features. One of which if the ability to trim and export a database based on a root individual. The separate function alone is powerful enough to save hours of time.Discover more about of FamilyInsight

Familyinsight also works with GEDCOMs from other programs such as Legacy. It works for both Windows and Mac computers.

SALT LAKE CITY—FamilySearch announced the recipients of the 2009 FamilySearch Software Awards at the FamilySearch Developers Conference in Provo, Utah. The 12 recipients were recognized for their outstanding and innovative work in advancing products and technologies that integrate with FamilySearch’s emerging suite of products and services.

The annual FamilySearch Software Awards has been established to encourage and recognize software development that benefits the family history and genealogy industry. “We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2009 FamilySearch Software Awards. The awards formally recognize the software achievements of those developers and companies that are making important contributions to the family history and genealogy industry,” said Gordon Clarke, FamilySearch Web services product manager.

The Best Features awards this year were decided by a panel of judges for the industry. The Develop Choice Awards are decided by the vote of members of DevNet.FamilySearch.org, an online community of developers. The awards were given for the categories of best Application (API) Library, Most Useful to Developers, and Potential Future Impacts.

The following recipients were announced and presented at the FamilySearch Developers Conference:

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons can access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I just received the following email from Ancestral Quest and I thought you would like to be in on the scoop too!

Renee:

We've recently added the ability to let the user upload LDS Ordinances to nFS, and to download the Confirmation and Initiatory information. We've also added just a little color to our action icons for your enjoyment :-)

By the way, we have added a couple of new, shorter tutorials on the nFS syncing at http://www.ancquest.com/Ver12-1Tutorials.htm. When I teach a seminar, I can cover the full scope without losing the audience's attention, as they are able to interact. But as you've mentioned, asking a user to cover the full set of features in one sitting in a tutorial gets long. So we're breaking it into smaller chunks.

Thank you,

Gaylon

Aah, shorter is much better, and color too! I watched the 11 minute Overview of Syncing AQ with NFS and actually understood what the process is. Not so scary to me now. I am amazed on how many other tutorials there are on the program. Very comprehensive! Great job Gaylon.

Most Comprehensive Syncing. In the category of "Desktop Syncing or Tree-Cleaning", Ancestral Quest received the award for "Most Comprehensive Syncing." In July of 2008, Ancestral Quest became the first desktop family tree program to be able to synchronize desktop data with the family tree of New FamilySearch. Because Ancestral Quest is able to work not only on its own native database format, but is also able to work with files from PAF 5, Ancestral Quest offers both AQ and PAF users the ability to synchronize their data with New FamilySearch. In addition to syncing individuals, AQ has the ability to sync families, quickly sync selected groups, and even to import ancestral lines directly from New FamilySearch. Gaylon Findlay, President of Incline Software said, "As we have worked with users over the last 8 months since AQ 12.1 was released, we have been pleased to hear their expressions of gratitude and excitement over how easily and quickly they can synchronize their data with the family tree of New FamilySearch. As thousands of users of PAF 5 have realized that they can use Ancestral Quest to seamlessly connect their data to the family tree, they have enthusiastically endorsed this product. Our slogan of ‘FamilySearch Made Clear and Easy’ encapsulates the ideas that these features are not only easy to use, but provide views of the data that make very clear what is happening during the syncing process."

Best Listing Tool. In the category of "Desktop Productivity", Ancestral Quest received the award for "Best Listing Tool." In 2002, Incline Software created an advanced names listing feature in Ancestral Quest that would allow a user to quickly view all the records in their file, and sort on several fields. In the years since then, this tool has been improved to show more data about the records, and to sort on any field, and sub-sort on up to two more fields. This tool allows users to find information in ways not possible in other software products. A typical use of this capability is to sort all records by birth place so that you can see all the individuals in your file who were born in a particular location, and then sub-sort by name and birth date to view those individuals alphabetically and by age. With this sorting, users can quickly spot misspelled place names to globally correct them. Another use is to sort all women by their spouse’s surname, and sub-sort by given names, so that users can easily look up women by their married names.

Incline Software has been developing Ancestral Quest for over 15 years. Products derived from Ancestral Quest include PAF (Personal Ancestral File) and AFT (Ancestry Family Tree). The millions of users of these products will find that they can use these award winning tools in Ancestral Quest without having to learn a new software program.

Free Trial. To find out more about Ancestral Quest or Incline Software, or to download the 60-day free trial of Ancestral Quest, visit the web site www.ancquest.com or call Incline Software at 1-800-825-8864. Several training tutorials to help users get the most out of these features are available online at no charge.

Leading Genealogy Software Receives Awards for “Best Dashboard” and “Easiest to Sync”

PROVO, Utah. — March 10, 2009 — RootsMagic, Inc. today received two 2009 FamilySearch Software Awards at a banquet held in conjunction with the 2009 FamilySearch Developers Conference at Brigham Young University. The purpose of the awards is to publicly and formally celebrate the software achievements of those developers and companies that are making important contributions to the Family History and Genealogy Industry.

Both awards were for features in RootsMagic 4, the latest version of the award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy and enjoyable. On hand to accept the awards were Bruce Buzbee, president and Michael Booth, vice-president.

Easiest to Sync

In the Desktop Syncing or Tree-Cleaning category, RootsMagic 4 received an award for “Easiest to Sync”. RootsMagic 4 has the ability to link people in your desktop genealogy file with matching people on the New FamilySearch website. Once linked, RootsMagic 4 makes it easy to share data between your personal file and New FamilySearch. With a few clicks, you copy facts and events between the two systems and dispute incorrect information. You may also add, link, combine, and dispute fathers, mothers, spouses, and children, all on the same screen.

“We’re very gratified to receive the ‘Easiest to Sync’ award because that has been our focus from the very beginning,” said Buzbee. “We know how overwhelming it can be for people working with the New FamilySearch system. Our goal has been to take what could be very complex and difficult chores and make them into simple, friendly tasks. This award validates our goal.”

Best Dashboard

RootsMagic 4 received a second award in the Desktop Productivity category—“Best Dashboard” for its “FamilySearch Central” screen. FamilySearch Central is a feature in the RootsMagic desktop genealogy software which brings together all of its powerful FamilySearch tools into one convenient screen.

“FamilySearch Central puts it all at your fingertips,” said Booth. “No need to hunt around through endless screens to find what you’re looking for. It shows you the status of your work, what’s new on FamilySearch, and what tasks you still need to do. And it’s all in plain English. This is something my mom can use and understand.”

Free and Available Now

RootsMagic 4 is currently in public beta and is available for free at http://www.rootsmagic.com/preview. “We’re so excited about this new release, we wanted to give everyone a risk-free option to try it for themselves,” said Buzbee. Each person who wishes to participate will be given a registration key which will allow them to download and experience the software for the duration of the public beta period.

Users of other genealogy software products will find it easy to experiment with RootsMagic 4 using their own data. RootsMagic can directly import data from PAF, Family Tree Maker (through 2006), Family Origins, and Legacy Family Tree. It can also read and write data using the popular GEDCOM format.

For those interested in using RootsMagic 4 with the New FamilySearch system, a series of video tutorials is available at http://www.rootsmagic.com/fs.

About RootsMagic, Inc.

For over 20 years, RootsMagic, Inc. has been creating computer software with a special purpose- to unite families. One of our earliest products- the popular “Family Origins” software, introduced thousands of people to the joy and excitement of family history.

That tradition continues today with “RootsMagic”, our award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history fun and easy. “Personal Historian” will help you easily write and preserve your life stories. “Family Reunion Organizer” takes the headaches out of planning those important get-togethers. And “Family Atlas” creates beautiful and educational geographic maps of your family history.

We have just released an updated version of the RootsMagic 4 public beta. This new version fixes a number of bugs, including an issue where incremental search sometimes doesn't work right. This particular bug requires us to rebuild the database indexes when you open an older file, so please be patient when that happens (especially on really large databases where it can take awhile). Rebuilding the indexes is a one time occurrence and will only be done the first time you open the older file.

This new version also includes a new "RootsMagic News" feature which will display on startup and show any "news" or information about whether there is an update available for download. This way we don't have to send an email every time there is a new update posted... you will be alerted as soon as an update is available.

If you decide to turn off the RootsMagic News screen, you can always turn it back on later on the Tools > Program options screen. You can also just access the News screen directly from the "Internet > RootsMagic News" menu.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Last week I missed working on FamilySearch Indexing. I was already on Sunday to sit down and work on it when my daughter came over in tears. She was all upset by her finances and thinking she might have to come home to live. She works full time and I knew that she made enough money to live on her own. So I went over to her apartment with her and installed AceMoney Lite and helped her with her finances. AceMoney Lite is the freeware version of AceMoney a financial management program. I love it because it is lite weight but powerful. Easy to understand and has a lot of great features. It's like my RootsMagic of financial software.

Over the years I have showed my kids how I do our finances, making out a budget, balancing the checkbook. My wisdom has always gone unheeded. All of them just go by what the bank says they have in their account. Since my daughter had never balanced her checkbook we went back a month and used Feb 1st starting balance and entered all the transaction to bring her current. Thankgoodness she had saved the last weeks receipts so we knew what was outstanding. After everything was accounted for we assumed we now had a true bank balance.

Since the program lets you categorize your transactions and even split them we could look at the reports and see where all her money was going. Boy was she shocked at how much she had spent in different areas. She could now see that she had enough money to pay all her bills if she just watched her budget and changed some of her habits. It was a great mother-daughter experience; even if it wasn't your typical Sunday evening activity.

As I was preparing to work on my indexing again this week my daughter dropped by. I am happy to report that she is still using the program and what a difference it is making in the way she is doing things. Isn't it funny how sometimes we never learn by someone else's instructions or example until we want or need to learn the lesson for ourselves.

I suppose I could of worked on my indexing during the week but life just got too busy and I am still nursing my sore arm. Even though it's getting late tonight I wanted to at least index a batch. I have to get to bed early because I have to be to work an hour earlier. I'm starting a new position with the company tomorrow. I will be in customer support which is right up my alley.

As usual I look to make sure if there are any messages from headquarters, and there are. This is from the FamilySearch indexing application itself - in My Messages.

From: HeadquartersSubject: Indexing TipDate: 25 Feb 2009

Indexing Batches with Multiple Images

Many projects contain batches with more than one image to index. Several projects even have varying numbers of images in different batches. If you are unsure how many images your batch contains, once the batch has downloaded look in the bottom left corner of the indexing screen. It will say Image 1 of 1, Image 1 of 2, etc, indicating how many images you need to look at and index.

Many of these images will have several records per image, but the data entry area is set at one record per image. If this is the case, the column on the left side of the data entry area will look like this:

01-0102-0103-0104-01

The number on the left, before the hyphen, refers to the image in the batch. The number on the right, after the hyphen, refers to the record on that image. While proceeding through the data entry lines, when the number to the left of the hyphen increases, the system will take you to a different image in the batch. The record numbers do not necessarily match the line numbers on the document from which you are indexing.

Even if the data entry area is set at one record per image, you are still responsible to index all records on each image. To learn more about how to do this, refer to the project-specific instructions. These are available under the Project Information tab on the indexing screen. Click the Indexing Project Homepage link, then click the Project-Specific Indexing Instructions link, and look for the Number of Records per image heading.

Our next message:

From: HeadquartersSubject: Semimonthly MessageDate: 27 Feb 2009

Many current projects have batches containing just one image, but many of these images have TWO PAGES each. The projects include:

Arkansas Marriages III

Massachusetts 1865 State Census

New Brunswick 1871 Census

Ontario 1861 Census

Cheshire Land Tax

Check your image carefully for a second page either to the right or below the page that is first visible. There are three ways to do this:

Click the Image Navigation tab to the right of the data entry area, near to the Field Helps tab. In the window that appears, click and drag the darker gray area with your mouse to move around to all areas of the image and look for all the records that need to be indexed.

Zoom out to 25% or less to see the complete image on your screen.

Scroll all the way to the right and all the way to the bottom of your screen.

Well, now it's time to pick a batch to work from. I like the Federal Census and yes! There are a couple in there. I picked the New Jersey 1920 US Federal Census. It turned out to be the first page for that town. I love it when I get the first page - it's usually in better handwriting. This was in great shape, ink was nice and bold and clear. It didn't take me to long to finish the batch. I would of done more if I didn't have to get to bed.

I indexed 50 names which now brings my grand total to date up to 11, 031 - WAHOO!!! I reached the 11,000 mark. I have to celebrate it's taken me a while to get there. Now I am off to bed so I can start getting up early in the morning.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

New York, March 5, 2009 – Family network dynastree just launched the Canadian version of its famous Surname Maps. The free tool that shows the surname distribution of more than 600,000 Canadian last names is the perfect companion for surname research.

The Canadian surnames, mostly of English and French origin, can be searched for under http://www.dynastree.ca. The distribution among the provinces is shown in a coloured map, the user can choose from relative or absolute distribution. With the help of dynastree’s tool, the origin of surnames can be researched quickly and easily.

Dynastree is a fast-growing family network to build a family tree. Once the family tree is started, relatives can be invited directly to add knowledge and help to extend its reach. Together, family members can enter information on other relatives and ancestors. The communication with relatives and friends can be established and carried on even if the connection had been lost or if they live far away.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Free Preview of Leading Genealogy Software Now Available to the Public

SPRINGVILLE, Utah. — March 4, 2009 — RootsMagic, Inc. today announced RootsMagic 4 public beta, the latest version of the award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy and enjoyable. During the public beta period, all are invited to download and experience the software, free of charge.

Impressive New Features

“RootsMagic 4 is the biggest release in our 20-year history of making genealogy software,” said Bruce Buzbee, president. “We’ve updated RootsMagic to work with the latest genealogical technologies available today, while staying true to our mission to make family history easy, accessible, and fun.”

RootsMagic 4 boasts an impressive list of new features including integrated web search, improved SourceWizard for citing sources, sharing events among multiple persons, creating pre-defined groups of persons, person and place mapping, recording DNA tests, and improved navigation and data entry. RootsMagic 4 is also one of the only desktop genealogy programs certified to work with “New FamilySearch”.

Freeing Your Data

“A common request that we hear from people is that they don’t want their data to be trapped in their computer,” said Michael Booth, vice-president of development. “One of the most popular features in RootsMagic 3 is our ‘Shareable CD’ which puts your data and pictures onto a CD or DVD along with a special copy of RootsMagic. You can then give the discs to family and friends and they don’t have to buy or install anything. It’s all there on the disc.”

“We’ve taken that a step further in RootsMagic 4,” explains Booth. “One unique and exciting new feature is ‘RootsMagic To-Go’. It allows you to install RootsMagic onto a USB drive and transfer data between it and your computer. This gives you the freedom to take RootsMagic and your data wherever you go- to work, on vacation, to the library- anywhere.”

Free and Available Now

RootsMagic 4 beta is available now for free at http://www.rootsmagic.com/preview. “We’re so excited about this new release, we wanted to give everyone a risk-free option to try it for themselves,” said Buzbee. Each person who wishes to participate will be given a registration key which will allow them to download and experience the software for the duration of the public beta period.

Users of other genealogy software products will find it easy to experiment with RootsMagic 4 using their own data. RootsMagic can directly import data from PAF, Family Tree Maker (through 2006), Family Origins, and Legacy Family Tree. It can also read and write data using the popular GEDCOM format.

The public beta also gives users the chance to give feedback and suggestions to improve the software. “Customer feedback is essential to us. All of the changes and improvements in RootsMagic 4 are in direct response to needs and desires expressed by our users,” said Booth. Buzbee added, “We’ve already received invaluable comments and suggestions from the early testers and we’re looking forward to hearing from the general public.”

About RootsMagic, Inc.

For over 20 years, RootsMagic, Inc. has been creating computer software with a special purpose- to unite families. One of our earliest products- the popular “Family Origins” software, introduced thousands of people to the joy and excitement of family history.

That tradition continues today with “RootsMagic”, our award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history fun and easy. “Personal Historian” will help you easily write and preserve your life stories. “Family Reunion Organizer” takes the headaches out of planning those important get-togethers. And “Family Atlas” creates beautiful and educational geographic maps of your family history.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley PAF (Personal Ancestral File) Users Group will be on Saturday, 14 Mar 2009, from 9 am until noon IN THE EDGEWOOD/RIVERSIDE LDS CHAPEL, 3511 North 180 East, Provo, Utah. Note the Group has moved from their old location to this new LDS chapel which is behind the Jamestown shopping plaza on the east side of University Avenue in the Provo "River Bottoms". You get to it by going on 3700 North east from University Avenue and then south on 180 East. There is a map showing the new and old locations on our website given below.

The main presentation will be by Marcy Brown on WELCOME TO ROOTS TELEVISION! Have you discovered all the terrific, free genealogical programming at Roots Television yet? Did you know that you could tune into all the Ancestors episodes that were featured on PBS? Or a whole channel of genetic genealogy shows? Or an impressive collection of programs on Irish roots? And those are just three of the 20 channels! Whatever your interest, Roots Television has something for you! Come learn how to navigate this site, contribute your own videos, and watch what you want when you want!

RootsTelevision™ was launched online in late 2006 and already provides more than 1,000 videos –- free, on-demand, and 24/7 -- for family history enthusiasts around the globe. In its first year this Internet-based channel won four Telly Awards for its diverse programming. For more information please visit Roots Television.com™

Marcy Brown is an award-winning independent media producer and a co-founder of Roots Television, a ground-breaking Internet television network. Marcy has written, produced and directed documentaries and television programming in diverse world-wide locations, on topics ranging from family history to competitive sports to religion in Africa. She has had a long-time presence in the family history community as a creative partner and Executive Producer of the award-winning PBS Ancestors series, which continues to air on public television channels across the United States.

In the LDS Community, Marcy is a writer/producer/director of the popular documentaries Pioneers of Africa, Beyond The Dream: The Story of The Polynesian Cultural Center, and Eternal Man: Reflections on the Life and Thought of Truman G. Madsen. She also developed scripts and content for BYU Television's new Real Families, Real Answers series and produced and directed the Real Families, Real Answers Studio episodes which will begin airing nationally on public television stations in April of this year.

Most recently, Marcy co-founded the Talk Story Foundation (www.talkstoryfoundation.org) whose mission is to capture, preserve and share oral history documentaries in video and other new media formats. In addition to the Foundation's flagship film on Truman Madsen, other Talk Story projects currently in development and/or production are Remembering Matthew Cowley, My Icelandic Heritage, Swiss Pioneers of Santa Clara, and The Rescue Continues: Descendent Stories of the Martin/Willie Handcart Companies.

Marcy holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film Production and has experience working with television stations and film studios in the U.S. and with the BBC in England. She believes strongly in the power of media to wield a positive influence in peoples' lives. After spending hundreds of hours capturing the stories of ordinary and extraordinary people, she is convinced that there is no such thing as an uninteresting life. Everyone has a story to tell. Every life has a message worth sharing.

Following the main presentation there will be several classes taught concerning technology and family history. As usual, there will be something for everyone at all levels of expertise. The classes currently scheduled for this meeting are the following:

The Value of the Pedigree Resource File, by John Blake

The New Search at Ancestry.com, by Kendall Hulet

Beginning US Census Research, by Jerry Castillo

Q&A: Welcome to RootsTelevision.com, by Marcy Brown

Video of last month's main presentation: Avoiding Pitfalls in Your Research, by Jake Gehring

Legacy 7, by Joel Graham

RootsMagic 4, by Sue Maxwell.

All meetings of the Users Group are open to the public whether members of the Group or not. The Users Group has the goal of helping individuals use technology to further their family history and there are usually 100-125 attending the monthly meetings on the second Saturdays. Several of the officers, including Gerhard Ruf, President; Brian Cooper, 2nd VP; Beth Ann Wiseman, PAFology Editor; Kay Baker and Gerry Eliason working with finances and membership; and Bruce Merrill, Lynne Shumway, and Marie Andersen, working with the DVD & Video Library, will all be there. They will help with membership, answer questions, distribute the current issue of the monthly newsletter PAFology, and check out DVD's and videos of past presentations and classes to members of the group. Information about the Users Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on the Group's website http://uvpafug.org and the press releases are at http://blog.uvpafug.org/. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at pres@uvpafug.org (801-225-6106), VP1 Don Snow at snowd@math.byu.edu, or VP2 Brian Cooper at vp2@uvpafug.org.